Maternal Prevention Strategies: An Exploration of How African American Mothers Prepare Their Sons for Potential Police Interactions

Background and Purpose:  

The maternal experiences of African American women have been thoroughly explored in the literature, but few studies have been attentive to how African American mothers are preparing their sons for potential police interactions. Racial socialization is a common process African American parents engage in with their children, but more knowledge is needed to understand how that process varies when addressing issues of policing. This specialized racialization process could warrant distinctive strategies that affect the way African American sons experience potential encounters with police. It is not only African American adult aged males at risk for police violence, African American minors (8%) account for all police related deaths among the African American population.

It is the purpose of this study to explore African American mother’s perceptions of police and how those perceptions impact the type of racial socialization strategies shared with their son. The intent is to offer insight and understanding into a crucial parenting process that is uniquely a part of the African American parenting experience.

Methods

A focus group consisting of six African American mothers was conducted in Los Angeles, CA. Participants were predominantly from middle-class households, with ages between 30-60 years old. The ages of their sons ranged between the ages of 8-35 years old. The focus group lasted approximately two hours, and participants received refreshments before and after the focus group. Participants were asked about their perceptions of police, strategies imparted to their sons to prepare for potential police interactions, and their confidence that the strategies shared will mitigate safety risks in a police interaction. The focus group utilized a semi-structured question guide, that allowed space for group interactions and emergent data. The focus group was transcribed and coded thematically using the Dedoose qualitative software, using a phenomenological approach.

Findings

Data analysis revealed that African American mothers take great care in providing their sons with information and strategies to help prepare them for potential police interactions. A conversation about interacting with the police was deemed necessary to increase levels of safety during a police encounter. Participants utilized various strategies and resources to inform and provide their sons with a foundation of knowledge that they hoped would minimize fatal or injurious outcomes following a police interaction. Some of these strategies included reality testing, accessing family and community supports, regulation of behavior and personhood, and reframing of negative schemas in reference to police officers. Participants reported that they were not entirely confident that the strategies they shared with their sons would ensure safety in potential police interactions but believed that neglecting to share strategies with their sons would be detrimental.

Conclusions and Implications:

The findings demonstrate how African American mothers thoroughly prepare their sons for potential police encounters. With an increased understanding of maternal experiences of African American mothers and community perceptions of police, social workers will be efficiently equipped to address individual and collective concerns with their African American clients.